Oil-well appliance



L. J. MILDREN.

OIL WELL APPLIANCE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE24, 1919.

1 $44,922. I v Patented June 29, 1920.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

L.J.Mi1dr en.

wound 14o L. J. MILDREN.

OIL WELL APPLIANCE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 24, I919.

Patented June 29, 1920.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

m Mm d n L UNITED STATES PA TENT OFFICE.

LORY J. MILDBEN, OF PONCA CITY, OKLAHOMA, ASSIGNOR ONE-HALF TO JEROME R.HIN'KLE, OF PONCA CITY, QKLAHOMA.

OIL-WELL ArPLIANcE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 29, 1920.

' Application filed June 24, 1919. Serial No. 306.450.

: pliances, of which the following is a specification. I

Th1s invention relates to a device or appliance to be used in suspendingtubing in an oil or deep well and anobject of the invention is toprovide a device which will support the weight of the suspended tublng,when it is filled with fluid, and support long cleaning the well of thedamaged pipe, as

fell as the 'loss of production while this work is in progress.

- When the tubing reaches the bottom of and heavy strings of tubing fromthe casing head or top of the well without liability of breaking.

The present mode of hanging or suspending a string of tubing in awell isto insert the top or last joint of the pipe through a metal ring whichis made to fit the outside of.

thepipe snugly, but when the. coupling or collar of this joint of pipecomes in contact with "the metal ring it will rest upon the metal ringas the diameter of ther'coupling is larger than the ring and cannottherefore pass through the ring. This metal ring then is seatedon thecasing head top. The casing head top having an aperturesuflicientlylarge to allow the tubing 01'. coupl ng to pass through it,but when the metal r1ng which is larger than the aperture of the casinghead top comes in contact therewith the tubing is t en suspended fromthe caslng head.

In this manner of suspending the tubing it is readily seen that theentire weight of tubing which is filled with fluid when the well ispumping thereby addin a greater weight to the tubing all depen s uponthethread on the top of the upper joint'of the tubing which is screwed orinserted inthe bottom of the coupling. This method of suspending tubing1n deep holes or wells is very unsafe and frequently the tubingbreaks.

off in or at the thread where the same is inserted into the bottom ofthe couplln'g,

' causing the tubing to drop into the bottom of the well, therebydamaging the tubing and causing excessive expense and delay 1n the well,then the tubing is raised from the bottom to a certain desired point,where it is to'be suspended. It is not often that the coupling of theuppermost joint of the tube ing happens to come at the right place, so

thatthe tubing can be suspended upon it. It is well ,known that thethread on tubing which is made at the factory is much truer and saferthan threads which can be cut at a well with ordinary stockand dies;there fore, when the coupling has, to be removed and a new thread cut atthe well, it is seen that this thread cannot be as safe and strong asthe machine made thread. This further adds to the liability of thethread breaking offlpnd allowing the tubing toifall into the we Theobject of a device which will overcome all of the above enumeratedinconveniences, and which will prevent the tubing from breaking off atthe thread or coupling of the uppermost section; also to provide acoupling head or tube suspending "structure wherein a fluid thisinvention is to providetight joint is formed about the tubing, the

'tube, and further to provide a device to which links may be attached tofacilitate the drawing of the tubing from the well.

Other objects of the invention will appear in the'following detaileddescription "taken in connection" with the accompanying drawings,forminga part of this specification and in which drawings:

' Figure 1 is a side elevation of, the improved appliance showing itapplied to the upper end of the casing.

Fig. 2 is a top plan of the appliance.

ig. 3 is a vertical section through the appliance. l

Fig. 4 is a top plan of the gasket employed in the appliance.

Fig. 5 is a side elevation of a modified form of the appliance.

Fig. 6'is a top plan view of the modified form and Fig.7 is a verticalsection through the modified form of the appliance.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, 10 indicates the casingofan ordinary oil gas or deep water well in which a'string of tubing 11 issuspended. This tubing 11 is, ordinarily made up of a series ofconnected sections and the improved appliance is designed principallyfor supporting this string of tubing to prevent breakage thereof.

The casing 10 has a casing head 12 mounted upon the upper endthereofwhich is provided with diametrically pposed outlet openings 13and 14, out 0 which the oil or liquid flows when the well is pumping.The casing head 12is provided with an outwardly offset upstanding flange15 forming a seat upon which a gasket 16 is mounted. The lower end ofthe lower section 17 of the tubing supporting appliance fits within theupstanding flange 15, andis provided with an annular bead 18 whichengages a portion ofthe upper edge of the flange. et screws 19 extendthrough the flange 15 and engage against the lower section 14 forrigidly connecting it to the casing head 12. The lower section 17 of thetube supporting structure is provided with an internal annular flange20, intermediate its ends, upon the upper surface of which flange awasher 21 rests. The gasket 22 rests against the washer 21 and thisgasket is preferably made of sections 23 and 24 each semi-circular inplan, and of rubber or other analogous material to form a fluid tightjoint to prevent the leakage of the fluid upwardly through the tubingsupporting structure or appliance. The upper section 25 of the tubingsupporting appliance is provided with a depending sleeve-like portion 26which gradually increases in diameter from its lower end and fits snuglywithin the bore of the upper end of the lower section 17, resting uponthe gasket 22. The upper member 25 is provided with a central bore, thesides of the upper portion of which gradually diverge toward the upperend of the section. A plurality of pipe gripping members 27 are mountedwithin the portion of the bore in the member or section 25, each forminga segment of a circle, the inner diameters of which, when placed withinthe bore are substantially equal to the diameter of the tubing 11. Theinner surfacesof these members 27 ,are serrated, forming biting teethwhich incline upwardly and are adapted to bite into the pipe 11,forsecurely connecting \the pipe thereto and for supporting the pipefrom the'members 17 and 25. The particular arrangement of the teeth 28formed in the members 27 will cause the teeth to firmly bite into thetubing under tendency of down- A pair of diametrically opposed lugs 30and 31 are formed upon the member 25 and they are provided withsubstantially semi-circular recesses 32 in their under surfaces,which'project beyond'the outer su'rface of the lower section 17 of thetubing support. These lugs 30 and 31, are adapted to facilitate theconnection of links 33, to

the tubing supporting structure'which links 7 i have their upper endsconverging and con- 'nected -being adapted for connection with anysuitable type of hoisting means to' draw the string of tubing 11 out ofthe well casing. 10.

From the foregoing description taken: 1n connection with the drawings,it will be apparent that with the improved tubing supporting'structure,it will be unnecessary to IOQ cut and rethread the tubing at any pointto permit the attachment of a coupling and link thereto for engagementagainst the casing edge to support the tubing, as the improved supportindevice may be positioned at any desire place along the length of .thetubing for properly supporting it upon the lower section 17 andconsequently the casing head 12, thereby eliminating to of the tubing.

In Figs. 5, 6, and 7, a modified form of the tubing supporting structureis illusa material extent the liability of breaking I trated, the saidform comprising a casing v head 40 which is threaded, as shown at 41upon the well casing 42. This casing head 40 has lateral projections 43formed thereon at diametrically opposed points to which projections tothe pipes 44 and 45 are connected to permit the fluid which flows up-Wardly from the casing 42 to pass laterally from the casing head throughthese pipes.

The pipes 44 and 45 are preferably threaded into the'lateraldiametrically opposed extensions 43. The portion of the casing head 40which projects above thelateral projection 43 is provided with an axialbore, the walls or sides of the upper portion of which gradually divergetoward the upper end thereof. An annular inwardly extending flange 46 isformed within the casing, head 40, directly above the communicationbetween the interior of the casing head and which gradually decreases indiameter tothe well.

ward its lower end, for snugly fitting within the upper tapered portionof the bore of the upper portion of the casing head 40 as clearly shownin Fig. 7 of the drawings, where the device is employed for supporting astring of tubing as indicated at 52. An annular ring or flange 53 isformed upon the upper section 50 and its under surface -is flat forengagement with the upper end of the casing head 40. This uppersection50 like the upper section 25 of the forms illustrated in Figs. 1 to 4inclusive is provided with an axial bore 54 the upper portion of whichgradually increases in diameter' toward the upper end of the section. Aplurality of pipe gripping members 55 areprovided, which have upwardlinclining teeth 56 upon their inner sur aces for engagement with thetubing 52 to support the latter against slipping or sliding movement,withdrawing rods 57 are connected to the members 55 to facilitatetheirwithdrawal. from within the bore 54 of the members 50.

A pair of diametrically opposed laterally projecting lugs 58 are formedupon the member 50 and they areprovided with recesses 59 in their undersurfaces adapted to receive therein vthe lower portions of links 60 toconnect the device 50 to a suitable hoisting means to draw a string oftubing from These lugs 58 and the lugs 30 and 31 are provided withopenings extending therethrough adapted to receive pins as indicated at61 to prevent accidental disconnection of the links 33 or 60 with therespective lugs.

Changes in details may be made without departing from the spirit ofthisinvention, but; a

I claim:

1. In a device as set forth, the combination of a lower section, anupper section pro-- vided with a depending tubular portion adapted forinsertion into the lower section,

an annular flange formed upon thelower section, a gasket upon saidannular flange and engaging against the inner end of said tubularportion for forming a fluid-tight connection between the upper and lowersections, said upper section provided with an axial bore, a plurality ofpipe gripping members inserted into the upper portion of said bore forsupporting gripping engage-- ment with a pipe, laterally extending lugsformed upon said upper section and adapted for engagement with hoistinglinks, and pins extending transversely through said lugs for preventingaccidental disconnection of the links and lugs.

2. In a device as set fdrth, the combination of a lower section, anupper'section, said lower section provided with an axial bore, havingthe upper portion thereof gradually increasing in diameter toward itsupper end, a depending tubular portion formed upon the lower end of saidupper section and shaped to snugly fit within a portion of the said borewhich gradually increases in diameter, said upper section provided withan axial bore, the upper portion of which gradually increases indiameter toward the upper end of the upper section, a plurality of tubegripping members inserted in the portion of said bore which graduallyincreases in diameter, said tube gripping members having upwardlyinclining teeth upon their inner surfaces for biting engagement with atube, and an annular flange within said lower section, and a gasketresting upon said flange and engag- 1ng the lower end of said tubularportion to form a fluid tight joint between the upper and lowersetcions.

3. In a device as set forth, the-combination of a lower section, anupper section, said lower section provided with an ,axial bore, havingthe upper portion thereof gradually increasing in diameter toward theformed upon the lower end of said upper section and shaped tosnugly fitwithin a portion of the said bore which gradually upper end, a dependingtubular portion increases in diameter, said upper section lower end ofsaid tubular portion to form I a fluid tight joint between the upper andlower sections, and withdrawing rods attached to said tube grippingmembers.

'4. In a device as set forth, the combination of a lower section, anupper section,

said lower section provided with an axial bore, having the upper portionthereof gradually increasing in diameter toward its upper end, adepending tubular portion formed upon the lower end of said uppersection and shaped to snugly fit within a portion of the said bore whichgradually increases in diameter, said upper section provided with anaxial bore, the upper portion of-which gradually increases in diametertoward the upper end of the upper section, a plurality oftube grippingmembers inserted in the portion of said bore which gradually increasesin diameter, said tube gripping members having upwardly inclining teethupon their inner surfaces for biting engagement with a tube, an annularflange within said lower section, a gasket resting upon said flange and.engaging the lower end of said tubular portion to form a fluid tightjoint between the upper and lower sections, withdrawing rods attached tosaid tube gripping members, laterally extending diametrically opposedlugs-formed upon said upper sections and provided with recesses in theirunder surface and pins extending transversely through said lugs.

J 5. In a well appliance, tube supporting means arranged to engage theupper edge of the casing of the well, said supporting means comprisingupper and lower sections, tube gripping means removably carried by theupper section, laterally projecting lugs formed upon said upper sectionadapted to receive portions of hoisting links.

6. In a well appliance, t ube supporting means arranged to engage theupper edge of the casing of the well, the supportingmeans comprisingupper and lower sections, tube grlpplng means removably carried by theupper sections, laterally projecting lugs formed upon said uppersection, and having recesses in their lower faces adapted to receivetherein portions of hoisting links, and a gasket between the upper andlower sections for forming a fluid tight joint therevbetween.

LORY J. MILDREN

